Chemical Basis of Life

Atoms and Molecules

Atoms > basic unit of elements

- smallest particle of matter; non-divisible by chemical means

Came from the Greek word atomos means uncut

- composed of protons and neutrons in the nucleus and electrons outside the nucleus

- smallest unit of an element to enter into chemical reactions

- all atoms of an element have a particular number of protons (atomic number)

- electrically neutral because the number of protons equals the number of electrons

- atomic weight depends on the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus

Molecules

- form when two or more atoms of the same element reacts with one another

- the smallest part of a compound

- Group of atoms

- could be inorganic or organic

Chemical Bonding

- interactions involving atoms of elements combining with one another

- determined by the electrons that surround the nucleus

- an atom may bond with another atom by either gaining, losing, or sharing electrons

Types of Chemical Bonds:

1. Covalent bond – electrons are shared

2. Ionic bond – an electron is transferred from one atom to another

- cations, when electron is lost (positively charged); anions, when electron is gained
(negatively charged)

- weakest
3. Hydrogen bond – when hydrogen combines with oxygen or with another electronegative atom; weak
and can easily be formed or broken

Participates in hydrogen bonding (NOF) (Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine)

Inorganic molecules

- usually contain positive and negative ions

- atoms are usually held together by ionic bond

- often associated with non-living things

-include water, acids, bases, salts and gases

Carbon – organic

- It is the only element that can make many number of bonds

Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide – inorganic because it is an exemption

Water

- the most abundant component of the protoplasm

- inorganic compound of two atoms of hydrogen and an atom of oxygen

Physical properties:

1. universal solvent

2. high specific heat and latent heat of vaporization

3. immiscible (cannot be mixed) with lipids (fats)

4. neutral pH

5. liquid in form at room temperature

6. high surface tension

Physiological properties:

1. dissolves or holds the materials of the protoplasm

2. regulates body temperature

3. helps in the functions of the sense organs

4. serves as lubricant for movable surfaces

5. serves as cushion for the brain and spinal cord

Acids and Bases

- acids are molecules that raise the hydrogen ion concentration (𝐻 + ) when added to a solution

- bases are molecules that lower the (𝐻 + ) when added to a solution (OH-- pag base!!!)

- pH scale is used to measure the acidity and alkalinity of a solution

- as the pH number decreases, acidity increases

- as the pH number increases, alkalinity increases

- a much higher or lower pH may cause illness

Alkalosis – high ph level of blood

Acidosis – low ph level of blood

Salts

- formed from the neutralization of an acid and base

- occur in the form of soluble chlorides, sulfates, phosphates, and carbonates of sodium, calcium,
potassium and magnesium

- important in vital processes such as irritability of muscles and nerves, growth and repair of tissues

Gases

- important in oxidation of food molecule in order to release energy; two important gases are oxygen
and carbon dioxide

Organic molecules

- always contain carbon and hydrogen

- atoms are usually held together by covalent bond

- usually associated with living things

- includes carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids

Carbohydrates
- composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in definite ratio, 1:2:1

- the main source of energy in the body; building blocks are glucose

To combine glucose, u need glycosidic bonDsSs

Types pf carbohydrates

1. Monosaccharides

a. Glucose – blood sugar or dextrose

b. Fructose – fruit sugar

c. Galactose – milk sugar

2. Disaccharides

a. Lactose – glucose + galactose

b. Maltose – glucose + glucose

c. Sucrose – glucose + fructose

3. Polysaccharides

a. Starch – energy storage in plants

b. Glycogen – energy storage in animals

c. Cellulose – structural material in plants

Lipids

- composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with no definite ratio, the number of oxygen atoms is very
much less compared to hydrogen atoms

- building blocks are fatty acids and glycerol

Combine glycerol and fatty acids - Ester bonds

Types of Lipids

1. Simple lipids

- composed of three fatty acids bonded to glycerol

- also called triglyceride

- include stearin, palmitin, olein and waxes

2. Compound lipids

a. Lipoprotein

b. Glycolipids (lipids with carbohydrates)

c. Phospholipids

3. Steroids (ex. Cholesterol, bile salt, hormones)

Proteins

- composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen plus other elements such as sulfur, iron, iodine
- building blocks are amino acids

Combine the amino acid - Peptide bond ^

Types of proteins:

1. Fibrous proteins

- keratin and silk

2. Globular protein

- hemoglobin

3. Conjugated protein

- nucleoprotein

- glycoprotein

- lipoprotein

- chromoprotein

Nucleic Acid (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus)

Nucleic acids

- composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus

- important in protein synthesis as RNA, and in heredity as DNA

- building blocks are the nucleotides, which are made up of a pentose sugar (ribose/deoxyribose), a
nitrogen base (pyrimidine or purine), and phosphoric acid

- in DNA, purines are adenine and guanine; pyrimidines (with two carbon rine) are cytosine and thymine

- in RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil

To combine nucleotides - Phosphodiester bond

 Taxonomy

Definition of terms:

Systematics – the study of the diversity of organisms at all levels of organization; includes the taxonomy
and classification of organisms

Taxonomy – deals with the identification and naming (nomenclature) of organism

Phylogeny – the evolutionary history of a group of organisms

Identification – recognition of certain distinguishing characters of the plant specimen

Description – the listing of features or characters of the plant specimen

Classification – arrangement of plants into groups having common characteristics

Nomenclature – the orderly application of binomial names to a particular taxon

Carl von Linne

- known as the Father of Taxonomy

- born in May 1707 in Sweden

- received medical degree in 1735 in Netherlands

- published several books and papers including Systema Naturae, Fundamenta Botanica, and Genera
Plantarum

- introduced the use of binomial system of nomenclature for all species

- credited with naming approximately 12, 000 plants and animals

- died January 1778 after suffering several strokes

Taxonomic Categories

- the group of organisms in a particular category is called a taxon

- each of the category could be subdivided into three additional categories as in superorder, order,
suborder and infraorder

The Seven obligatory hierarchical categories

1. Kingdom – may be composed of several phyla (division)

2. Phylum (Division in plants) – may be composed of several classes

3. Class – may be composed of several orders

4. Order – may be composed of several families

5. Family – may be composed of several genera

6. Genus – may be composed of several species

7. Species – may be composed of several sub-species or varieties

Scientific name

- a binomial nomenclature given to a particular species

- composed of the generic name ( genus) and species epithet

- should be treated in Latin or should be Latinized

- should be underlined separately or italicized

- the universal standard name for any organism

Kingdom of Organism

Two-Kingdom System

- proposed by Aristotle, Plantae and Animalia

Three-Kingdom System

- adding kingdom Protista

Four-Kingdom System

- adding kingdom Monera

Five-Kingdom System

- Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia

Eight-Kingdom System

1. Eubacteria

2. Archaebacteria

3. Archezoa

4. Protista

5. Chromista

6. Plantae

7. Fungi

8. Animalia